Assessing estuarine environmental quality using fish-based indices: performance evaluation under climatic instability

The seasonal variation of five selected multimetric indices for the determination of the Ecological Quality Status (EQS) of transitional waters was evaluated, as well as the indices’ responses to an extreme drought event that occurred in 2005. The database used regards the Mondego River estuary, which was sampled from June 2003 to August 2006 on a monthly basis. Among the selected indices (EBI - Deegan et al. [Deegan, L., Finn, J.T., Ayvazlan, S.G., Ryder-Kieffer, C.A., Buonaccoesi, J., 1997. Development and validation of an Estuarine Biotic Integrity Index. Estuaries 30(3), 601-617], EDI - Borja et al. [Borja, A., Franco, J., Valencia, V., Bald, J., Muxika, I., Belzunce, M.J., Solaun, O., 2004. Implementation of the European Water Framework Directive from the Basque Country (northern Spain): a methodological approach. Marine Pollution Bulletin 48(3-4), 209-218], EFCI - Harrison and Whitfield [Harrison, T.D., Whitfield, A.K., 2004. A multi-metric fish index to assess the environmental condition of estuaries. Journal of Fish Biology 65, 683-710], EBI - Breine et al. [Breine, J.J., Maes, J., Quataert, P., Van den Bergh, E., Simoens, I., Van Thuyne, G., Belpaire, C., 2007. A fish-based assessment tool for the ecological quality of the brackish Scheldt estuary in Flanders (Belgium). Hydrobiologia 575, 141-159] and TFCI - Coates et al. [Coates, S., Waugh, A., Anwar, A., Robson, M., 2007. Efficacy of a multi-metric fish index as an analysis tool for the transitional fish component of the Water Framework Directive. Marine Pollution Bulletin 55, 225-240]), the EBI by Breine et al. (2007) was the only that evidenced clear interannual and seasonal variations. The EQS by the several indices ranged from “Low” to “High”, depending on the index considered, evidencing the high level of mismatch between indices. The results are discussed in the scope of the EU Water Framework Directive, regarding monitoring strategies, application of indices and EQS assessment.     

Antioxidant and biotransformation responses in Liza aurata under environmental mercury exposure - relationship with mercury accumulation and implications for public health

This study was carried out in the Laranjo basin (Ria de Aveiro, Portugal), an area impacted by mercury discharges. Liza aurata oxidative stress and biotransformation responses were assessed in the liver and related to total mercury (Hg_t) concentrations. A seasonal fish survey revealed a sporadic increase in total glutathione (GSH_t) and elevated muscle Hg_t levels, although Hg levels did not exceed the EU regulatory limit. As a complement study, fish were caged for three days both close to the bottom and on the water surface at three locations, and displayed higher Hg_t levels accompanied by increased GSH_t content and catalase activity as well as EROD activity inhibition. The bottom group displayed higher hepatic Hg_t and GSH_t contents compared with the surface group. Globally, both wild and caged fish revealed that the liver accumulates higher Hg_t concentrations than muscle and, thus, better reflects environmental contamination levels. The absence of peroxidative damage in the liver can be attributed to effective detoxification and antioxidant defense.     

Esterases activities and lipid peroxidation levels in muscle tissue of the shanny Lipophrys pholis along several sites from the Portuguese Coast

This study is part of a project aiming to validate the use of the intertidal shanny Lipophorys pholis as a sentinel species in pollution monitoring in NW European marine ecosystems. To this end, a characterisation of acethylcholin (AChE), butyrylcholin (BChE) and propionylcholin (PrChE) esterases in L. pholis muscle was performed and the results indicated that AChE was predominant. Furthermore, the use of eserine sulphate and BW284c51 (0.64–800 μM), and iso-OMPA (0.08–16 mM), confirmed the measurement of true cholinesterases (ChEs) as well as the presence of pseudocholinesterases. The field application of these markers to L. pholis, sampled in seven locations along the Portuguese coast, revealed that fish were likely to be affected by neurotoxic compounds. This was indicated by the significant depletion of AChE (p < 0.05) in animals collected at urban and industrialised sites, compared with those from reference locations. The inclusion of a marker of effect, measured as lipid peroxidation levels in muscle tissue, also revealed the existence of site differences. Overall, the study further validates the utility of L. pholis in pollution monitoring studies.     

Poly-aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) inputs from the Rhône River to the Mediterranean Sea in relation with the hydrological cycle: impact of floods

The concentrations of dissolved and particulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were monitored in waters of the Rhône River (France) every fortnight for a full calendar year, from June 1994 to May 1995. All flood events occurring over the course of the experiment were sampled at higher frequency to better quantify the impact of these extreme hydrological episodes on the annual export of PAHs to the Mediterranean Sea. This time-series indicates that more than 90% of the annual load of particulate PAHs is transported during flood episodes, with 77% discharged during the course of only one extreme flood event occurring in November 1994. During these intense events, riverine particles are depleted in PAHs while at low river discharge particles are PAH-enriched. Dissolved PAHs were less variable and less abundant than adsorbed PAHs, consistently with the low solubility of these compounds.     

A Study of the Star-forming Dwarf Galaxy NGC 855 with Spitzer

We present a study of the dwarf elliptical galaxy NGC 855 using the narrow-band Hα and Spitzer data. Both the Hα and Spitzer IRAC images confirm star-forming activity in the center of NGC 855. We obtained a star formation rate (SFR) of 0.022 and 0.025M◎yr-1,respectively,from the Spitzer IRAC 8.0μm and MIPS 24μm emission data. The HI observa-tion suggests that the star-forming activity might be triggered by a minor merger. We also find that there is a distinct IR emission region in 5.8 and 8.0μm bands,located at about 10 away from the nucleus of NGC 855. Given the strong 8.0μm but faint Hα emission,we expect that it is a heavily obscured star-forming region,which needs to be confirmed by further optical spectroscopic observations.     

Experimental and Theoretical Study on the Self-Weight Penetration Velocity of Suction Anchor Foundations in Sand

The application of the wellhead suction anchor in the second production test of natural gas hydrates(NGHs) in the South China Sea(SCS) was met with success. This design incorporates a central conductor guide pipe, which distinguishes it from traditional suction foundations. However, this addition resulted in a relatively high penetration resistance and a shallower penetration depth at the self-weight penetration stage. To mitigate this issue, the current study proposes an optimized design where ...     

Centennial-scale monsoon collapses during Marine Isotope Stage(MIS)7e detected in a northern Chinese stalagmite record

Occurrence or absence of centennial-scale climatic variability during Marine Isotope Stage(MIS)7e, the first peak interval of the Penultimate Interglacial, remains ambiguous due to the limited available high-resolved records. Here, we present a decadal-resolved stalagmite δ¹⁸O record from northern China spanning from 242.3 to 236.8 ka BP, covering MIS7e. The composite KLS δ¹⁸O record, integrating this study with the previous record in the same cave, shows a descending trend...     

Classification of seamount morphology and its evaluating significance of ferromanganese crust in the central Pacific Ocean

1 IntroductionCobalt-richcrust, alsoknownasferrom anganesecrustormanganesecrust, isdefined astheferroman-ganesedepositiondistributingontheseamountandoc-curringinlayer,crustandgravelornoduleinpart.Itisrich inthemetalofhigh economicvalue(cobalt,nick-el,plat…     

Validation and Application of Reanalysis Temperature Data over the Tibetan Plateau

The Tibetan Plateau has substantial impacts on the weather and climate of the Northern Hemisphere,due in large part to the thermal effects of the plateau surface.Surface temperature over the Tibetan Plateau is the most important parameter in determining these thermal effects.We present a method for verifying widely used reanalysis temperature products from NCEP-R2,ERA-Interim,and JRA-25 over the Tibetan Plateau,with the aim of obtaining a reliable picture of surface temperature and its changes over the plateau.Reanalysis data are validated against the topography elevation,satellite observations,and radiosonde data.ERA-Interim provides the most reliable estimates of Tibetan Plateau surface temperature among these three reanalyses.We therefore use this dataset to study the climatology and trends of surface temperature over the Tibetan Plateau.ERA-Interim data indicate a dramatic warming over the Tibetan Plateau from 1979 to2010,with warming rates of 0.33℃ per decade in annual mean temperature,0.22℃ per decade in summer and0.47℃ per decade in winter mean temperatures.Comparison with the results of previous studies suggests that surface warming over the Tibetan Plateau has accelerated during the past 30 years.This warming is distributed heterogeneously across the Tibetan Plateau,possibly due to topographic effects.